Power over ethernet adapter with communication device and method of programming and using same

ABSTRACT

A wireless broadcasting device, systems including the device, and methods of programming and using the device are disclosed. The wireless broadcasting device is powered using power over Ethernet and can be used to provide proximity-based capabilities to devices that otherwise do not have such functions.

CROSS REFERENCED TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a division of, and claims priority to, U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/706,826, filed May 7, 2015, and entitled “PowerOver Ethernet Adapter with Communication Device and Method ofProgramming and Using Same,” the contents of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to electronic communicationsystems, devices, and methods. More particularly, the disclosure relatesto communication devices that can be powered over the Ethernet, tosystems including such devices, and to methods of using and programmingthe devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The proliferation of wireless devices has facilitated the growth oflocation-based services, such as location-based marketing,location-based social networking, location-based communication services,and the like. Many location-based services, such as marketing andcommunication services, use wireless transmitting devices, such asBluetooth and/or Wi-Fi devices, to transmit location and/or proximityand other information to a user's mobile device. For example,location-based services can be used to broadcast marketing informationto mobile devices within range of a broadcasting device—e.g., tobroadcast specials or discounts to users' devices within a store.Similarly, location-based services can allow users to take advantage ofcommunication system services when a user's mobile device is withinbroadcast range of a broadcasting device. For example, a user's status,such as “in the office” can be updated, or calls can be transferredbetween a user's mobile device and a user's desk phone when a user iswithin range of a broadcasting device. Likewise, calls can betransferred between a user's desk phone and a user's mobile device whena user is beyond a range of a broadcasting device.

Some broadcasting devices, such as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) (alsoknown as Bluetooth Smart and Bluetooth 4.0), can operate inbroadcast-only modes. In these cases, the broadcasting devices broadcastinformation that can be received and used by nearby mobile devices; suchinformation can be static, or can be programmed—e.g., programmed overthe air.

The broadcast-only role of the broadcasting devices generally does notrequire a host interface. Thus, when operating in broadcast-only mode,broadcast devices can be placed anywhere suitable power is available.

In some cases, it may be desirable to, for example, place thebroadcasting devices on or near devices connected to the Ethernet.Unfortunately, many Ethernet-connected devices, such as phones orcollaboration devices, draw power only over the Ethernet and are notconfigured to provide power to any additional devices. Thus, suchdevices generally cannot provide power to additional broadcastingdevices. Accordingly, improved devices and systems for providing powerto broadcasting devices are desired. In addition, methods of programmingand using the devices and systems are desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

Subject matter of the present disclosure is particularly pointed out anddistinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. Amore complete understanding of the present disclosure, however, may beobtained by referring to the detailed description and claims whenconsidered in connection with the drawing figures.

FIG. 1 illustrates a device in accordance with exemplary embodiments ofthe disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a circuit in accordance with exemplary embodiments ofthe disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a system in accordance with exemplary embodiments ofthe disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates another exemplary system in accordance with furtherembodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method of pairing a mobile device to a wirelessbroadcasting device in accordance with further exemplary embodiments ofthe disclosure.

It will be appreciated that elements in the figures are illustrated forsimplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. Forexample, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may beexaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understandingof illustrated embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The description of various embodiments of the present disclosureprovided below is merely exemplary and is intended for purposes ofillustration only; the following description is not intended to limitthe scope of an invention disclosed herein. Moreover, recitation ofmultiple embodiments having stated features is not intended to excludeother embodiments having additional features or other embodimentsincorporating different combinations of the stated features.

Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure are described herein in terms ofvarious functional components and various steps. It should beappreciated that such functional components may be realized by anynumber of hardware or structural components configured to perform thespecified functions. For example, exemplary devices can employ variousseparate or integrated components comprised of various electricaldevices, e.g., resistors, transistors, capacitors, diodes and the like,whose values may be suitably configured for various intended purposes.Further, it should be noted that while various components may besuitably coupled or connected to other components within exemplarycircuits, such connections and couplings can be realized by directconnection between components, or by connection through other componentsand devices located therebetween.

Various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure provide a wirelessbroadcasting device. Exemplary wireless broadcasting devices draw powerusing power over Ethernet technology, wherein electrical power inaddition to data is transmitted over an Ethernet cable. As set forth inmore detail below, some broadcasting devices described herein canconnect to powerable devices, such that the broadcasting devices and/orthe powerable devices can be paired to a mobile device using wirelesscommunication technology.

Exemplary wireless broadcasting devices described herein can be used fora variety of applications to provide over the top proximity-drivenapplications to power over Ethernet devices that are otherwise notcapable of performing proximity-based functions. By way of examples, thewireless broadcasting device can be used to allow manipulations of apowerable device, such as a desktop phone or collaboration device, usinga mobile device paired to the wireless broadcasting device.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary wireless broadcasting device 100.Wireless broadcasting device 100 includes a wireless transmitter 102, acircuit 104, and a plurality of conductors 110-124. Wirelessbroadcasting device 100 can also include a socket 106 and a plug 108.

In practice, wireless broadcasting device 100 can be connected to apowerable device, such as a phone, collaboration device, or the like,using plug 108, and be connected to a power sourcing equipment using,for example, an Ethernet connector coupled to socket 106. As explainedin more detail below, power for wireless transmitter 102 can be obtainedfrom the power sourcing equipment, without the need for any additionalpower and without interfering with verification or classificationbetween the power sourcing equipment and the powerable device, orinterfering with data transmission between an Ethernet cable and thepowerable device. Further, wireless broadcasting device 100 can beconfigured to use less than about 100 mW of power. This powerconsumption is less than 3% of the 3.84 W lowest Power over EthernetClass 1 powerable device limit, so power consumption of wirelessbroadcasting device 100 can be considered to be within a noise level ofpower supplied to a powerable device.

Attempting to use power over Ethernet to power wireless broadcastingdevice 100 or wireless broadcasting transmitter 102 by directly tappinginto power over Ethernet feeds would interfere with the powerable devicebeing able to negotiate (i.e., verify and/or classify a powerabledevice) its power over Ethernet requirements and this would break theend-to-end power over Ethernet model. As set forth in more detail below,circuit 104 has been designed to allow a powerable device and powersourcing equipment to negotiate power requirements, and allow wirelessbroadcasting transmitter 102 to draw power once the power over Ethernetnegotiation between the power sourcing equipment and the powerabledevice has been completed.

Wireless transmitter 102 can include any device or circuit that canoperate in a broadcast mode. By way of examples, wireless transmitterincludes a Bluetooth transmitter, such as a Bluetooth Low Energytransmitter, and/or a Wi-Fi transmitter.

Conductors 110-124 can include any suitable conductors. For example,conductors 110-124 can include conductors typically found in Ethernetcouplers, such as copper wires.

With typical Ethernet operation, power sourcing equipment verifies thepresence of (and optionally classifies) a powerable device, and onlythen supplies power to the powerable device. This is done to ensure thata suitable powerable device is coupled to the power sourcing equipmentprior to the power sourcing equipment supplying full voltage, so as tonot damage any device that may not be suited to receive such voltagefrom the power sourcing equipment.

In accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure, circuit 104 isconfigured to allow power negotiation between power sourcing equipmentand the powerable device, so that the power sourcing equipment verifiesand optionally classifies a powerable device connected to wirelessbroadcasting device 100. After the power verification and optionalclassification between the power sourcing equipment and the powerabledevice are complete, circuit 104 is configured to provide suitable powerto wireless transmitter 102. In other words, typical power verificationand optional classification (e.g., as provided in IEEE 802.3 Standard)between the power sourcing equipment and the powerable device canproceed without interference from circuit 104 and/or device 102. Circuit104 and wireless transmitter 102 can be standalone devices, part of amodule, or form part of an integrated circuit.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates exemplary circuit 104. Circuit 104 isconfigured to allow a power source equipment to verify a presence of apowerable device and optionally classify the powerable device, and afterthe presence (and optional classification) of the powerable device isverified, circuit 104 is configured to supply power supplied from anEthernet cable to wireless broadcasting device 102. In other words,circuit 104 is configured to provide power to wireless transmitter 102from the power source equipment only if and when the power sourceequipment applies full operating voltage to a powerable device.Exemplary circuit 104 thus relies on a connection between a power sourceequipment and a powerable device to operate as described herein.

In the illustrated example, circuit 104 includes conductors 202-216,inductor components (e.g., magnetic core inductors) 218-224, diodes226-232, diode bridges 234, 236, and a DC switching converter 238.

Conductors 202-216 are conductors suitable to pass power from the powersource equipment to the powerable device. Conductors 202-216 caninclude, for example, copper conductor wires.

Inductor components 218-224 can include any suitable device that cantransfer energy through magnetic induction as described herein (e.g.,extracts a DC voltage), such as the illustrated magnetic core inductorsor any Ethernet transformer. The inductance of the transformer windingacts as high impedance to a signal frequency, but near zero impedance tothe power. Although illustrated as magnetic core inductors, inductorcomponents 218-224 can additionally or alternatively include autotransformers, or transformers; other transformer windings are notrequired for this application. Further, although illustrated with fourinductor components 218-224, other circuits within the scope of thisdisclosure can include, for example, two inductor components (over twoconductor pairs) and related reduction in other circuit elements. Theillustrated example works with Gigabit and other protocols and/or whenthe protocol is unknown.

As noted above, circuit 104 is designed to not interfere with theverification and/or classification process between the power sourceequipment and the powerable device. Accordingly, Zener diodes 226-232have a Zener voltage greater than the verification/detection voltage(e.g., about 10 V maximum) and/or the classification voltage (e.g.,about 20.5 V maximum). In the illustrated example, the diodes have avoltage of 27 VDC, below which they act as a high impedance device.

A power sourcing equipment voltage polarity is not guaranteed by theIEEE standard, so inductor components 218, 220, zener diodes 226, 228and diode bridge rectifier 234 allow wireless broadcasting device 100 tofunction with either polarity between conductor pairs 202/204 and206/208. Inductor components 222, 224, zener diodes 230, 232, and diodebridge rectifier 236 can be duplicated for the other two conductor pairs210/212 and 214/216, permitting the wireless broadcasting device tooperate from either pair set. Diode bridge 234 or 236 output voltagesupplies DC-DC switching converter 238 that can efficiently convert awide-ranging input voltage to the low-voltage regulated power rail totransmitter 102 (e.g., at about 3.3 VDC in the illustrated example).Using a switching converter, rather than a linear regulator, allowswireless broadcasting device to operate using less power. However, otherconverters can be used in place of DC-DC switching converter 238 and bewithin the scope of this disclosure.

During operation of circuit 104, power source equipment (also referredto herein as power sourcing equipment) supplies power over conductors202/204/206/208 or conductors 210/212/214/216. The power sourceequipment applies its source voltage between the center-taps of its202/204 and 206/208 (or 210/212 and 214/216 as applicable) inductor.This voltage then appears on the center-taps of associated inductors ina powerable device. IEEE specifications require that the powerabledevice be capable of receiving power over either the 202/204 and 206/208pairs or the 210/212 and 214/216 conductor pairs.

During the verification process, a powerable device identifies itself bypresenting a designated resistance (e.g., 25 kohm DC resistance) to thepower source equipment. The power source equipment detects thisresistance by applying a voltage of up to 10V between two activeconductor pairs and measuring the resultant current. If and when thepower source equipment detects this current within the expected range,the power source equipment will then increase its output voltage to theoperating level of 44-57VDC. Between successful detection and theapplication of full operating voltage, the power source equipment mayoptionally classify the powerable device. The voltage used during theclassification is, according to the IEEE standard, between 15.5 and 20.5VDC.

Turning now to FIG. 3, a system 300, suitable for binding a mobiledevice to a wireless broadcasting device or other device, isillustrated. System 300 includes a power sourcing equipment 302,wireless broadcasting device 100, a powerable device 304, a mobiledevice 306, a cloud service 308, and a database 310.

Power sourcing equipment 302 can include any suitable system that canprovide power over an Ethernet cable. Exemplary sources can be IEEE802.3 compliant. Power sourcing equipment 302 can be coupled to wirelessbroadcasting device 100 using an Ethernet cable 312.

Powerable device 304 can be any device that receives power from powersourcing equipment 302. Exemplary powerable devices include wirelessaccess points, phones, video equipment, collaboration devices, and thelike.

Mobile device 306 can include any suitable device with wirelesscommunication features. For example, mobile devices can include awearable device, a tablet computer, a smart phone, a personal (e.g.,laptop) computer, a streaming device, such as a game console or othermedia streaming device, such as Roku, Amazon Fire TV, or the like, orany other mobile device that includes wireless communicationcapabilities.

In accordance with some exemplary aspects of various embodiments of thedisclosure, mobile device 306 includes communication components (e.g., ashort-range transmitter/receiver, such as a Bluetooth—e.g., BluetoothLow Energy components) for short-range wireless transmission ofinformation between device 306 and wireless broadcasting device 100.Mobile device 306 can also include an application, described in moredetail below. The mobile device application(s) referred to herein can bestandalone applications or form part of a native dialing orcollaboration application and/or an operating system on device 306.

Cloud services 308 can include one or more servers or computersconfigured to perform instructions as set forth herein. Cloud services308 can form part of a network, such as a local area network (LAN), awide area network, a personal area network, a campus area network, ametropolitan area network, a global area network, a local exchangenetwork, a public switched telephone network (PSTN), a cellular network,the like, and any combinations thereof. Cloud services 308 can includeor be coupled to a PBX server using an Ethernet connection, other wiredconnections, or wireless interfaces. Cloud services 308 may be coupledto other networks and/or to other devices typically coupled to networks.

Database 310 can include any suitable database. Although illustratedseparately, database 310 can form part of cloud services 308 and/or aserver connected thereto.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method 500 of binding a user to a wirelessbroadcasting device, such as device 100, using, e.g., system 300. Method500 includes the steps of obtaining identifying information from awireless broadcasting device (step 502), obtaining settings information(step 504), and writing the settings information to the wirelessbroadcasting device (506). Method 500 is conveniently described hereinin connection with system 300, and in connection with Bluetooth LowEnergy (e.g., using iBeacon advertising). However, the description isnot necessarily limited to this example, unless otherwise noted.

In the case of iBeacon advertising, a universally unique identifier(UUID) is used to identify the application, a major version number canbe used to indicate location or venue and a minor version number can beused to represent a particular iBeacon or a sublocation. In addition, anRSSI (received signal strength indication) can be used to denoteproximity to the beacon (from a few inches to 30 meters, for example).

The iBeacon devices can be programmed over the air, but this can be timeconsuming and subject to error. Specifically, each iBeacon device needsto be identified and then programmed. Typical techniques to program thedevices over the air require an administrator to be in very closeproximity, which can require significant administrator time. Further,the repetitive nature of entering programming information can be errorprone. This would typically be resolved via some sort of hostapplication; however, the proposed apparatus specifically prohibitsthis. Method 500 and system 300 address these problems.

During step 502, a mobile device, such as device 306, is used to obtainbroadcast identifying information associated with wireless broadcastingdevice 100 (e.g., a wireless transmitter within wireless broadcastingdevice 100). A mobile application can be used to bind the user towireless broadcasting device 100.

By way of example, step 504 can include the following. Wirelessbroadcasting device can transmit a universally unique identifier number(UUID). A user can then use the application to authenticate himselfusing, for example, a third-party service, such as Lightweight DirectoryAccess Protocol (LDAP) to obtain, for example, a directory number, name,location, or the like of the user. Once the user is verified, theidentifying information can be read by mobile device 306 and then bewritten to cloud service 308, as illustrated in FIG. 3. During thisstep, GPS and/or Wi-Fi can be used to determine location information.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, cloud service 308 can obtain major and minorversion numbers based on the data provided (e.g., based on the Wi-Fimarker). The major number can be derived from, for example, the cellservice of mobile device 306, GPS, a Wi-Fi network, a LDAP server, orother location related data. The minor number can be provided by, forexample, a “next available index” routine and can be representative ofthe user. The UUID, major, and minor numbers can then be stored indatabase 310.

During step 506, mobile device 306 can use the application toover-the-air (OTA) program wireless broadcasting device 100.

Once wireless broadcasting device 100 has been programmed—e.g., usingthe method described above, one or more applications on mobile device306 can be automatically launched when mobile device 306 is withinbroadcast range of wireless broadcasting device 100. Use of wirelessbroadcasting device 100 allows a powerable device without proximityabilities to become proximity enabled and thereby able to provideproximity-based (e.g., vertical) applications. The proximity-basedsolutions can be tailored based on the powerable device and/or aspecific application.

By way of one example, a powerable device can include a desktop phone.In this case, with reference to FIG. 4, after mobile device 306 ispaired with wireless broadcasting device 100, an application on mobiledevice 306 can use an application gateway (e.g., a Mitel Open InterfaceGateway), to manipulate features of powerable device (e.g., phone) 304.The manipulations can include, for example, hot desk in, hot desk out,and screen lock, which can be based on a proximity of a user, namely, aproximity of mobile device 306 relative to wireless broadcasting device100. More advanced features can be employed using systems and devicesdescribed herein. For example, advanced call-control features, such ascall forward, follow me or call pickup (pick up a first user's call fromanother user's phone, based on a proximity of the first user to awireless broadcasting device). Additionally or alternatively, comfortfeatures, such as silencing a ringer on powerable device 304 when anassociated user is not nearby, can be employed. In these cases, thefeatures can be set via a PBX 402 interface in communication with mobiledevice 306.

The present invention has been described above with reference to anumber of exemplary embodiments and examples. It should be appreciatedthat the particular embodiments shown and described herein areillustrative of the invention and its best mode and are not intended tolimit in any way the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.It will be recognized that changes and modifications may be made to theexemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the presentinvention. These and other changes or modifications are intended to beincluded within the scope of the present invention, as expressed in thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of pairing a mobile device to a wirelessbroadcasting device, the method comprising the steps of: using a mobiledevice, obtaining identifying information from the wireless broadcastingdevice; providing the identifying information to a server; obtainingsettings information, the settings information including over-the-air(OTA) programming information; using the mobile device, writing thesettings information to the wireless broadcasting device, the mobiledevice programming the wireless broadcast device using the OTAprogramming information in the settings information; pairing the mobiledevice to a powerable device, the powerable device coupled to the mobiledevice through the wireless broadcasting device; and powering thepowerable device and the wireless broadcasting device using power sourceequipment coupled to the powerable device and the wireless broadcastingdevice using a data transmission cable, wherein, during the powering,the power source equipment only provides power to the wirelessbroadcasting device after applying full operating voltage to thepowerable device.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method furthercomprises a step of writing user information to the wirelessbroadcasting device.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein obtainingsettings information comprises: authenticating a user, and obtaininglocation information, the authenticating the user occurring prior to thestep of obtaining location information.
 4. The method of claim 1,further comprising a step of automatically launching an application onthe mobile device after the writing the settings information and thepairing the mobile device to the powerable device steps and when themobile device is within a broadcast range of the wireless broadcastingdevice, wherein the data transmission cable is an Ethernet cable.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, wherein obtaining settings information furtherincludes receiving a universally unique identifier number (UUID).
 6. Themethod of claim 1, wherein obtaining settings information furtherincludes obtaining location information using at least one of globalpositioning system (GPS) or WiFi.
 7. The method of claim 1, whereinpower consumption of the wireless broadcasting device during thepowering is within a noise level of power supplied by the power sourceequipment to the powerable device.
 8. The method of claim 4, wherein theapplication on the mobile device communicates with the wirelessbroadcasting device to manipulate a feature of the powerable device. 9.The method of claim 8, wherein the feature is one of hot desk in, hotdesk out, screen lock, call forward, follow me call-control, callpickup, and silencing a ringer.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein thefeature is selected based on at least one of the settings informationand a proximity of the mobile device to the powerable device.
 11. Amobile device, comprising: a processor; and a memory, coupled to theprocessor, the memory including instructions causing the processor to:obtain identifying information from a wireless broadcasting device;provide the identifying information to a server, obtain settingsinformation, the settings information including over-the-air (OTA)programming information, write the settings information to the wirelessbroadcasting device, the mobile device programming the wirelessbroadcasting device using the OTA programming information in thesettings information, pair the mobile device to a powerable device, thepowerable device coupled to the mobile device through the wirelessbroadcasting device, wherein the powerable device and the wirelessbroadcasting device are powered using power source equipment coupled tothe powerable device and the wireless broadcasting device using a datatransmission cable, wherein, during the powering, the power sourceequipment only provides power to the wireless broadcasting device afterapplying full operating voltage to the powerable device, and launch anapplication on the mobile device when the mobile device is within abroadcast range of the wireless broadcasting device, wherein theapplication communicates with the wireless broadcasting device tomanipulate a feature of the powerable device.
 12. The mobile device ofclaim 11, the instructions further causing the processor to write userinformation to the wireless broadcasting device.
 13. The mobile deviceof claim 11, wherein obtaining settings information includes:authenticating a user, and obtaining location information, theauthenticating the user occurs prior to the step of obtaining locationinformation.
 14. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein obtainingsettings information further includes receiving a universally uniqueidentifier number (UUID).
 15. The mobile device of claim 11, whereinobtaining settings information further includes obtaining locationinformation using at least one of global positioning system (GPS) orWiFi, wherein the location information is used to determine a proximitybetween the mobile device and the powerable device, and wherein theproximity is used to select the feature of the powerable device tomanipulate with the application on the mobile device.
 16. The mobiledevice of claim 11, wherein the feature is one of hot desk in, hot deskout, screen lock, call forward, follow me call-control, call pickup, andsilencing a ringer.
 17. A non-transitory computer program product forpairing a mobile device to a wireless broadcasting device, comprising: acomputer-readable medium, comprising: code for causing at least oneprocessor to: obtain identifying information from the wirelessbroadcasting device; provide the identifying information to a server;obtain settings information, the settings information includingover-the-air (OTA) programming information; write the settingsinformation to the wireless broadcasting device, the mobile deviceprogramming the wireless broadcasting device using the OTA programminginformation in the settings information; pair the mobile device to apowerable device, the powerable device being coupled to the mobiledevice through the wireless broadcasting device and the wirelessbroadcasting device programmed using the OTA programming informationcausing the powerable device to be proximity enabled to supportproximity-based applications; and power the powerable device and thewireless broadcasting device using power source equipment coupled to thepowerable device and the wireless broadcasting device using a datatransmission cable, wherein, during the powering, the power sourceequipment only provides power to the wireless broadcasting device afterapplying full operating voltage to the powerable device.
 18. Thecomputer program product of claim 17, wherein the code further causesthe at least one processor to write user information to the wirelessbroadcasting device.
 19. The computer program product of claim 17,wherein obtaining settings information includes: authenticating a user,and obtaining location information, the authenticating the useroccurring prior to the step of obtaining location information.
 20. Thecomputer program product of claim 17, wherein the code further causesthe at least one processor to automatically launch an application on themobile device when the mobile device is within a broadcast range of thewireless broadcasting device, wherein the application is configured tomanipulate a feature of the powerable device, and wherein theapplication configured as one of the proximity-based applications. 21.The computer program product of claim 17, wherein obtaining settingsinformation further includes receiving a universally unique identifiernumber (UUID).
 22. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein thefeature is one of hot desk in, hot desk out, screen lock, call forward,follow me call-control, call pickup, and silencing a ringer.
 23. Thecomputer program product of claim 22, wherein the feature is selectedbased on at least one of the settings information and a proximity of themobile device to the powerable device.